The Eurovision Asia Song Contest is on the horizon. At some point in 2018 up to twenty countries will send artists to sing-it-out in front of a massive television audience stretching from Australia up to Japan and potentially over to Dubai. Among the many nations we expect to see is South Korea — a nation of 51 million that punches well above its weight when it comes to exporting culture. Korean pop — that’s K-pop — is an audio-visual feast. Slick dance moves, infectious hooks, telegenic stars — the Korean pop music factory churns out idol after idol and the world laps them up. It’s no wonder fans are already predicting that South Korea will become the Sweden of Eurovision Asia.

With that in mind we thought we’d have a think about who Seoul might consider for the musical extravaganza. Here are five names that spring to mind immediately. Don’t see your favourite? Don’t worry. South Korea has enough artists that we’ll be writing a few more of these lists in the months ahead…

South Korea: Dream acts for Eurovision Asia 2018

TWICE

It’s not yet clear whether the producers of Eurovision Asia will adopt the Eurovision rule of allowing just six people on stage. And if they do nine-piece girl group TWICE is going to have to lose a few of its starlets.

The group, which formed on the reality series Sixteen in 2015, hit it big in 2016 with “Cheer Up”. The bubble gum track oozes cute as the girls tells a boy with a crush to cheer up. “He says I take his breath away, I get him all frustrated,” they sing. “I make his heart race.” And they make those singles fly off the shelves too. The song was the most-played of the year and topped the ultra-competitive Gaon Digital Chart. They followed that up with “TT”, which sat on top of the charts for four straight weeks. It’s no wonder that Forbes ranked the group #3 on its Korean Power Celebrity List for 2017. They were the highest-ranking musical act.

TWICE have already won hearts in Japan, which could bode well for their efforts at Eurovision Asia. In June they charted at #2 in Japan with their first compilation album #Twice and went platinum in less than two months, pushing around 260,000 copies. Ka-ching!

BTS

Their name translates as the Bulletproof Boy Scouts. And the members of this seven-member band definitely know how to survive the wilds of the pop music scene, having pushed more than four million records globally.

They announced their arrival in 2013 with the song “No More Dream”, winning plenty of accolades at home. And they proved they had global appeal when they released a series of tracks that made it into the Billboard 200 in the United States. In 2016 their second album, Wings, even hit #26 on that chart — the highest position ever for a K-pop album in the U.S.

“Blood, Sweat & Tears” — the lead single — came with a cinematic music video that gave life to their fierce trap beats and urban sound. Its fresh-faced singers turned a mansion into their playground as they threw down R&B-inspired moves, grabbed their crotches and generally ran riot. They’re the boy band that Eurovision has dreamed of…but never quite found.

PSY

Psy — real name Park Jae-sang — earned MTV’s “Viral Star of 2012” award for his international breakout hit “Gangnam Style”. His 18th single, it debuted on top of South Korea’s Gaon Chart (a feat he had already accomplished half a dozen times in his career). But “Gangam Style” — an ear worm of the first order — managed to get attention outside of his homeland owing to its rowdy, over-the-top music video, which includes that horsey dance. He went giddy-up and the world went click, click, click — it became the very first YouTube video to reach one billion views. By 2014 it had become the first video to reach two billion views.

The video captures Psy’s wit and flair. It seems him working a variety of geek-chic looks as he dances in the subway, in a barnyard and at the club. His propensity for hilarity and outré looks are also on show in videos for “Gentleman M/V” and “Hangover” (featuring Snoop Dogg).

He’s made the entire world move before. Why not do it again at Eurovision Asia?

EXO

In 2012 their EP Mama topped the charts in Korea. Fast forward to July 2017 and their fourth studio album The War did it again, promptly becoming the fastest-selling album ever in Korea. All four of their albums have sold more than one million copies.

The album’s lead single “Ko Ko Bop” melds reggae, bass guitar and some hard-to-describe digital sounds. Strip away the Korean lyrics and you could hear it looping on Spotify charts around the world. The video features plenty of synchronised swagger with the guys popping and locking on a road, at a tropical beach party and in a parking garage.

Need further proof of their popularity? The video clocked a million views in one hour and nearly nine million in a day. That’s star power, y’all.

Girls Generation

In recent days fans of Girls’ Generation have wondered aloud whether its members will disband following their tenth anniversary celebrations, which took place earlier this month. The idols — among the biggest in Korea — are said to be renegotiating their contracts. But Tiffany — one of the best-known members, who is Korean-American — has said that she plans to return to the United States to study acting. K-Pop fans are worried and anxious. But surely they can listen to the group’s countless singles, which span electropop, hip hop, R&B and dance, during the agonising wait for news.

The eight-piece girl group formed in 2007, but they didn’t rise to national prominence until their 2009 single “Gee”. The bubblegum pop song became one of the most-loved of the decade and paved the way for future hits including “I Got A Boy”, “The Boys”, “Mr Taxi” and “Oh!” They were the very first girl group from Asia to have five music videos with 100 million views each (for the aforementioned songs).

They’re national treasures. Perhaps they’ll go out in style by representing their country at Eurovision Asia next year?

What do you make of these five acts? Do you think any of them have what it takes to win Eurovision Asia? Do you think that Korea should go for a lesser known act? Let us know what you’re thinking down below!

south korea is amazing when it comes to music ! i would like to hear Twice or Red Velvet !!!
for japan, Perfume! the only group that looks like electr-euro pop band and which top japanese charts each year!

My bets for EAsiaSC
For Japan, NEWS or Tegomass will represent!
For Indonesia, AgnezMo or Afgan
For Malaysia, Ziana Zain or Siti Nurhaliza
For Korea, plenty acts to choose from
For Philippines, Darren Espanto 🙂
For Thailand… well.. Lookpong ???
For Vietnam… My Tam please??
well that’s all what I think.

From this List, I think Girls’ Generation would be by far the best choice (okay, I’m biased af but still)
(Other than some people in the comments said)They are vocally strong group, and have probably one of the biggest fandom in asia since they are known by the general public in some other countries.
I would like something in the style of their latest comebacks, Lion Heart and Holiday.

From the groups/artists that are missing, I think Red Velvet, Seventeen, Big Bang, Ailee or IU would be good choices.
Espacially the later ones seem realistic, since they are both big in South Korea and because the korean audience seems to prefer ballads and/or cuter stuff.

North Korea will likely never participate because they do not broadcast any material of the outside world especially South Korea and Japan are absolutely not done. But the Moranbong Band would be the best choice for them I think.

What about that girl who used to be in 2NE1 who can actually sing and rap? She’d be a great choice.

Also the type of acts they send depends on if Asia’s gonna see Eurovision Asia the same way Europe sees ESC, or if they’re all gonna be extra and be like “we’ll send our BIGGEST STAR to the World Cup of music”

9Muses are one of the best option for this! Really pretty girls, amazing singers with strong vocals and perfect dance skills! and of course, they have too amazings songs! like Remember, Hurt Locker, Glue or Wild! and only are 5 members so they are perfect for this!!

I’m Asian but I don’t like KPOP. South Korea is like a pop groups factory, rolling out well-trained dancers and singers with strong team behind them, including western producers. However, their songs are nothing but western music sung in Korean. The only difference is they can dance in sync like a pro. Besides, those anti-fans are stupidest and craziest as hell, basing the stars as best as they can. But I do love watching Korea dramas though.

Yeah well, if they’re gonna have the same rules as Esc and if we look at typical k pop groups it’s not gonna work. These are groups that are chosen for their looks, dancing abilities and the singing comes last, that’s why on the live performances they use the original backing track to cover their voices. Sure, sometimes you have one amazing singer in the group but most of them are on the same level. The focus is always on the dance and visuals. It’ll be interesting to watch though, specially cause they can’t have more than 6 people and gotta sing live.

I don’t listen to K-pop nearly as much as I listen to other world music, but I’d throw in a sentimental entry for this venture: Ladies’ Code. This 5-girl group made their debut in 2012, and their first 5 singles were big hits…

…But then, late in 2014, a car crash killed 2 of them. Their manager was speeding and it was raining.

They’re a trio now, and for the last 2 years they’ve been on the comeback trail, and they’ve done considerably well.

lol cedric…amazing singers im a huge kpop fan but come on, most of them aren’t. They are chosen for their dance skills and beautiful looks. If you doubt me, go watch the live performances where it’s mostly the original song playing.

Hm, I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what you mean exactly by “YOUR idols”? As far as I’m concearned Ailee is an idol, as well? What makes her different or better than all the other artists mentioned in the comments.? There is plenty of K-Pop artists who are capable of singing, not just Ailee.

I said your overrated idols. All these people named are extremely overrated. Ailee is an idol but she’s not overrated. I love how you took my comment out of context. Yes other idols can sing there is Mamamoo who isn’t overrated. All these people minus Psy can’t all sing live and are produced by major companies who tell them what to do and what to sing. Mamamoo as an idol group is an excellent choice since they know how to put on a stage on their own not only what their company scripted them to do.

The “music” here is so annoying. If they insist on Eurovision rules about live vocals, most Korean artists are going to really struggle.

For all the K-Pop fans who are thinking that they are going to get some disposable girl-group/boy-group with a bubblegum dance track with choreographed dance routines, bear in mind that the majority of Korean chart successes remain over-the-top sentimental ballads. Think more Omar Naber than FO&O. 😉

Considering that Asias’ version will follow the same rules as the original we can expect the acts to have to sing live. In that case we can cross out Twice, and Girls Generation. As well as the fact that these groups all have more than six members.

If we are going with a group I’d suggest vocal goddesses MAMAMOO.

As for a solo act I can imagine, (although she’s my least favorite of the group) Taeyeon from Girls Generation.

K.A.R.D should go tbh. They can sing live and dance. They’re also less known and are just getting started. Dont know if it’d help their career but not sure how this contest is gonna work either, so im curious.

Keeping in mind that this will be a ‘song contest’ they will probably have professional juries involved in it so its best if Korea sends some talented soloists first. I’ve got these in mind: IU, PSY, Lee Hyori, Ailee BoA, Hyunah and Rain.

Why soloist? Why still soloists? Why are ESC fans so obsessed with soloists? For South Korea are typicall K-Pop bands, so they must send any of them. Your opinions are destroying whole Eurovision and now you want to destroy Asiavision LOL. Your dreams will never come true. You will never see any competition, when all participants will be female solo with pop/ballad songs. Nobody would watch it. People want to see different interesting projects, different music styles, diversity, to have fun during watching. It’s not Miss or pop competition, it’s music contest. Music is colourful art with many different sides. But you will never understand it, you are thinking music is only Lady Gaga, Rihanna or Ani Lorak. Europe and Asia, never find inspiration in opinions of LGBT ESC fans and show us how colourful is your music!

nocomment- If you think sound korea is just kpop then you know NOTHING about south korea. Koreaboos like you are destroying the korean music scene, there are so many talented korean rappers, indie, even rockers who could represent Korea. It’s funny that you mention Lady Gaga or Rihanna because many kpop artists get inspired by them and specially african-american music. So shut your mouth before judging South Korea and generalizing europeans. Not everyone wants a solo female and if they want, there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s called PREFERENCE.

Tbh they would be better off with a solo singer like IU that gives off like a clear K-pop vibe while not going overkill with the group thing (I don’t think most ABU members outside East and SE Asia, of which there are many, would get it)

one of the reasons i’m not so excited for asiavision as an aussie- i don’t enjoy kpop or asian music culture 😐 I don’t think australia will get into it as much as the big esc because most people in australia have a european connection. Also people here expect fun crazy 2008 stuff from esc and from the get go I don’t think the asian version will have that

Jo, are you clueless?? ive been a huge kpop fan for years and most of these kpop bands dont(and some can’t) sing live, they rely on background music and their amazing dancing skills. They move too much to even sing it well. Don’t call it asianvisions sweden, cuz its not.

I don’t follow K-Pop, but I believe South Korea has a lot of artists that can sing live. It’s a quite big country.
When I compared to Sweden, I meant about production, buzz, etc. People are already talking about K-Pop, like when Eurovision season starts they talk about Melfest.

BTS and Exo are waaaay too strong for EASC. Think about how gigantic the fan base of those 2 boybands are!

I like to see Twice to compete but they’ll cut off 3 members IF the current ESC rule is applied to EASC.

PSY and SNSD are great choices but I doubt if they’ll do well in the competition.

Aside from those Kpop superstars (which they are too strong for the competition), they should send Red Velvet, IU, AKMU, Turbo, Koyote, and Wonder Girls over the artists that were mentioned on the article.

to sum it up, apparently they were gonna all leave their company CUBE Ent. but the company wanted Hyuna so they basicall cornered her by saying that if she didnt renew she would lose all the work that she had done on her upcoming solo album so Hyuna stayed the other 4 left

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